


60 Seconds with Swett: The Republican Budget and Medicaid Cuts
There will be significant political interest in what happens to Medicaid funding as Republicans work to pass a budget and tax bill with their very slim majority. Touching entitlements remains politically risky, and the party is divided on whether any Medicaid cuts would be acceptable heading into an election cycle. At this stage, per-capita caps on federal Medicaid payments to states do not appear to be under serious consideration. However, even without direct federal cuts, rulemaking changes could materially affect Medicaid-dependent providers. CMS has issued a proposed rule that aims to close what it describes as a Medicaid “tax loophole” that some states have used to inflate federal... Read More »
Sonida Senior Living Continues Upward Trend
We are at the end of the first quarter 2025 earning roll call, and Sonida Senior Living posted another solid quarter. Weighted average occupancy for its same-community portfolio (56 communities) increased by 100 basis points year over year to 86.8%, which is at the top end of many of its competitors. In addition, same-community RevPOR increased by 5.5% to $4,274 year over year, same-community net operating income increased by 19.3% to $16.1 million, and the same-community operating margin jumped by 280 basis points to 27.6%. On a sequential basis, RevPOR increased by 1.8%, same-community net operating income increased by 4.5%, and same-community net operating margin jumped by 80... Read More »
Brookdale Occupancy Hits 81%
Brookdale Senior Living reported its first quarter earnings results, and it appears to be building on the momentum started at the end of 2024. In addition, month-end occupancy in April topped 81.0%, marking the ninth straight month with ending occupancy above 80.0%. While it is great the company is making progress, there is still a lot more work to do. After declining in the second half of 2024, the seniors housing operating margin increased to 28.4% in the first quarter. This represents a 130-basis point increase from the year-ago quarter, but a whopping 290-basis point increase sequentially. Meanwhile, RevPOR increased by 3.0% year over year and 4.6% sequentially, contributing to... Read More »
NHI Raises Guidance in Q1 Earnings Report
National Health Investors came out with its first quarter earnings and reported modest improvements in several financial metrics from the year-ago quarter. The REIT also increased its 2025 annual guidance range, which investors must have liked, pushing up the share price by nearly 3% in the trading hours following the announcement and earnings call to hit year-to-date highs. Net income attributable to common stockholders per diluted common share for the Q1:25 was $0.74 compared to $0.71 during the same period in the prior year. It also included approximately $300,000 in proxy contest and related expenses for a proxy campaign launched by activist investor Jonathan Litt’s Land &... Read More »